Apparatus for carbonating liquids



May 19, 1925. 1,538,204 R. MUELLER APPARATUS FOR CARBONATING LIQUIDS Filed July 26, 1920 S'Sheets-Sheet 1 May 19, 1925 R. MUEfLIqER APPARATUS FOR CARBONATING LIQUIDS 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 26 efwwflo? w P11610607? Maeilw May 19, 1925. 1,538,204 R. MUELLER APPARATUS FOR GARBONATING LIQUIDS Filed July 26. 1920 s Sheets-Sheet 5 Racial 0% Mllafler May 19,1925. 1,538,204

R. MUELLER KPPARATUS FOR CARBONATING LIQUIDS Filed July 26, 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Rudolph Mzzeiir R. MUELLER APPARATUS FOR CARBONATING LIQUIDS Filed July 26 1 IL v 4 mm Illlllllllllu mnummnus 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filclaiflfi Mueller Patented May 19, 1925.

RUDOLPH MUELLER, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS FOR CARBONATING LIQUIDS.

Application filed July 26, 1920. Serial No. 399,093.

To all whom it may (camera:

.Be it known that I, RUDOLPH MUELLER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Carbonating Liquids, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in carbonating machines of the kind commonly used atsoda water fountains for automatically maintaining a constant supply of fresh carbonated water.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple automatic machine for. maintaining a constant supply of water impregnated with carbon dioxide gas.

The improvement,includes an overbalanciug device of novel character which operates when the supply of water runs lowto move the point of support insuch a direction that the final overbala-ncing movement is accomplished suddenly and by which movement the motorswitch is closed and the gas valve is opened, and which operates in like manner when the container is nearly filled to quickly stop the pump and shut the gas valve. The pump is run by an electric motor and the improvement includes an electric switch of simple character combined with the quick operation mentioned which eifectually pre vents the burning of the switch in closing and opening same.

Other features of my invention. relate to various details of construction, operation and control which will be more clearly undm'siood from the following description, taken. in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is an elevational view looking at the motor end of the machine Figure 3 is a top plan view of-the machine;

Figure 4: is a vertical central longitudinalsection of the machine substantially on the line -1- 1 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a horizontal section substantially on the line 5--5 of Figure 4, showing a plan view of the counterbalanced lever;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross sectional view of the line 6-5 of Figure 4-;

Figure 7 is a vertical central sectional view of the motor control switch;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of the operating levers similar to Figure 4 and showing of its movement;

Figure 9 is a detail horizontal section on the line 9--9 of Figure 4;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary detail section on the line 10-10 of Figure 1;

Figure 11 is a vertical detail section of the connection to the receptacle on the line 11-11 of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a conventional showing of the electrical connections, and a Figure 13 is a fragmentary horizontal section on the line 18-13 of Figure 1.

In said drawings, 1 is a base plate upon which the several parts of the machine are mounted so that the machine as a whole is a unit.

Adjacent to one end of the base rigid standards 2 rise upon which 011 pivots 8 is pivotally mounted an auxiliary or sub-base 4. This member 4 extends towards the opposite end of the machine in the form of a lower head or base 5 of a vertical cylindrical receptacle 6.

The cylinder 6 constitutes the carbonating chamber. It is adapted to be connected to a source of supply of carbon dioxide under pressure and I provide means for pumpingwvater into the receptacle under the pressure of the as, viz substantiallySO to 90 lbs. per squarefinch.

. At the end of the auxiliary base opposite to the head 5 Iarrangc a suitable braclqet for carrying an electric motor 8 for oper- Rising above the bracket ,with the auxiliary base 9 upon the upper end of which I mount a manual electric cut-oil switch 11 and an automatic electric control switch 12. I preferably enclose the switch 12 in a metal box 13 provided with a clear glass front 14 to protect the switch and to permit its operation to be seen.

The motor shaft carries a pinion 15 which meshes with a large wheel 16'mounted on one end of a horizontal ed in suitable bearings provided in the aux- .iliary base. At the side of the machine opposite to the gear wheel 16 I provide a reciprocating water pump 18, and this pump is operated by a connecting rod 19 the lower atmg the pump. 1 and connected 1s a framework the receptacle at the lower limit.

shaft 17 which is mounti end of which is mounted on a crank pin carried by a crank 21 mounted onthe shaft 17. The connecting rod 19 rises to the upper end of pump l8 and is pivotally connected to the upper end of the pump piston rod 22. The pump 18 is mounted on said auxiliary base l. All of the parts or devices carried by the auxiliary base are substantially rigid with it in that they move with the auxiliary base.

it the lower end of the pump I provide an inlet connection 23. and an outlet connection These connections are provided with suitable check valves. The inlet is connected to a suitable source of supply of fresh water through a flexible pipe connection The outlet or delivery connection 2-.l: is connected by a rigid. pipe 26 to an angle connection member 2? which is rigid with the head 5. This member 27 has a ir: ee 28 which is connected with the lower end ot a pipe 29 winch rises centrally within the receptacle 6 to the upper end there f for delivering the water into. the receptacle.

The connection 27 is provided with a second passage 30 which connects within the receptacle to a smaller pipe ill which also rises to the upper part of the receptacle for the delivery oi the carbon dioxide. This second pipe is secured to and is supported by the larger water pipe. The outer end ot the passage is connected by a block tin pipe 32 to a valve connection 33 at the opposite side of the base. This valve connection 3 3 is adapted to be connected to a I of ((31, under pressure such as the usual steel cylinder used for this purpose and which carries a suitable pressure reducing valve for reducing the pressure of the gas which is delivered to the receptacle at a pressure of S0 to 90 lbs. per square inch. The piy e 3-2 is made in the form of a large curve or loop to provide l'lexibility to allow for the movement of theconnection 27, the valve connection 33 being lixed to the base.

The connection 212' has a third passage 34.- which connects directly with the interior of the receptacle (3 for the delivery of the carbonated water from the receptacle and. the outer end ot this passage is connected by a pipe 35 to a delivery control valve tltltixed to the base and adapted to be connected to a pipe to deliver the carbonated water to the soda water fountain or other place of use. To provide flexibility in this latter connection I insert a section 37 of flexible pipe or hose.

()n one side of the receptacle 1 provide a suitable water gauge glass 38 surmounted by a pressure gauge 39.

The receptacle is partly counterbalanced by the motor and other parts which are mounted on the opposite end of the auxiliary base at; that is atthe opposite side (it tho counterweight 42.

the pivots For completing the counterbalancing of the receptacle and controlling the starting and stopping of the motor I provide a counterbalancing lever 39, one end l0 of which extends to a point substantially centrally below the receptacle 6 and the opposite end il extends out beneath the bracket 7. Upon the outer end ll I provide a relatively large and heavy adjustable counterweight l2 which can be secured in its adjusted position on the lever by a set screw 48. This lever is mounted to rock in a vertical plane on a knife edge support 44: adjacent to its inner end 4L0 and the lever is provided with a V-notch to receive the knife edge support li and position the lever thereon. The inner end. of the lever is bifurcated and the arms thereof are provided with V-notches -l6 in their upper edges to receive oppositely disposed V-shaped projections e7 in the side arms of the U-shaped link member l8 which hangsbetween the arms so. The cross bar d9 at the lower end of the link as is V-shaped, on its upper side and is received in a V-notch in the lower endo'f a strut 51.. The upper end ot the strut 51 is also V-shaped and is received in a V-notch 53 in a depending projection 5st arranged substantially cent any on the lower side of the head 5.

The outer end ll or the lever 39 is quite long relatively to the inner end 4:0 and hence the counterweight Al), though notnearly so heavy as the receptacle 6 and its contents, is effective to counterbalance the receptacle even when nearly full of water. The bot tom of the notches +l6in which the U-sbaped link Shangs, is arranged at a higher level than the knife edge support is and consequently as the inner end of the lever moves downwardly during the lilling operation, the radial line extending from the top of the support ll through the bottom of the notches 46 is swung down toward the horizontal and the [)l'lOIJlTlVE length of: the short end of the lever is lengthened. This increases the leverage ol the receplal'rle over On the other hand the bottom ol the notch 53 in the projection 54: on the receptacle is about on the level with the pivotal support 3 of the auxiliary base 4t and consequently this point is carried horizontally towards the thin knife edge support ll as the receptacle moves downwardly. I make use of this ditlerential movement of these two points in. cone bination with the swinging link lS to etl ect a relatively sudden change of the leverage to cause the receptacle to complete the latter part of its downward movementrapidly.

The swinginglever slttand the strut. 5'1 tend to take stable positions in balanced relation at all times. In the upper position of the receptacle the center line of the strut is in an inclined direction in a general direc llt SIX

tion toward the knife edge support 44: as best shown 1n l 1gure4, while in the lower position of the receptacle .the inclinatlon of this hne is reversed or away from the knlfe edge support. As the receptacle is being hlled with water and getting heavier it gradually descends, and the swinging link gradually changes from its inclined position as shown in Figure l to a vertical position, at which time the resultant push of the weight of the receptacle with its lead causes the swinging link to swing outwardly, thus suddenly increasing the effective length of the short end of the lever and causing the receptacle and the lever to move rapidly during the latter part of the movement. It will be understood that the receptacle is caused to move downwardly by thefaddition of the water pumped into it and reaches the lower limit of its movement at; the time that the level of the water has been raised in the receptacle substantially to the upper water line The overbalancing of the ceunterweighted lever described. causes the receptacle to remain down while the water is being withdrawn from the receptacle to lower the lcvel'of water therein substantially to the lower water line 56, thus causing the operation of the motor at intewals depending upon the rapidity with which the charged water is withdrawn from the receptacle.

As the receptacle, in its downward movement, on account of the addition of the water thereto, reaches a point where the U-shaped link hangs substantially vertically, the lower end of the link is then swung quickly out wardly so that as it reaches the lower limit of its-movement it stands with itscenter line substantially at right angles to a radial line extending through! the edge of the knife edge support 44- and the bottom of the V-notch 4:6 in the end 40 of the lever 39, thus resulting in the longest efl'wtive leverage on the counterhalanced lever. Consequently the receptacle remains at the lower lin'iit of'its movement until the water is sullicicntly drawn oil from the receptacle to lower the level substantially to the lower line 56.

To limit the movement of the leverage system and the receptacle the rear or long end 41 of the lever 39 is arranged to contact with the base 1 to limit the upper movement of the receptaeleand I provide an adjustable stop 63 at the opposite end of the base upon which the receptacle rests at the lower limit of its movement. This adjustable stop consists of a vertical threaded screw 57 mounted in a. suitable hole in the base. I

,As the receptacle is not tied to the leverage system and might fall away from same thus permitting the link 48 and the strut 49 to be displaced. I provide means for positively limiting the movement: of the auxiliary base and receptacle on the pivots 3.

This limiting means comprises projection 58 extending out horizontally from a depending projection 59 on the head 5 which enters a vertical. limiting slot 66 in the vertical. leg 61 of the L-shaped member 62 secured to the base by a bolt 68. This angle member is entered. upon prejection 58 and secured in position after the other parts are assembled.

The electric switch 12., as best shown in Figure 7, consists of a rectangular block (i l of insulation material mounted upon the upper end 65 of a vertical rod 66. This rod extends down and is pivotally connected at its lower end to an angle bracket 67 secured to the counter-balancing lever 39 at a point between the support 44 and the weighted end of the lever.

The rod 66 passes through a guide opening 68 in an insulation block 69 secured on the bracket 9 and is guided thereby in its up and down movement. Mounted on the block 69 are two angle plate contact members 70 which are connected in the supply circuitfor a prong or the motor 8. The vertical legs 71 of these members contact with theopposite sides of the block 65. The lower end 72 of the block 65 is tapered so that it caneasily be drawn down between the yielding arms 71 as the rear end of the lever 39 drops down.

At the upper part of the block 69 I provide a metal ferrule .or band 73 securely mounted on the block and adapted as the receptacle rises to be drawn down between the spring arms 71 and complete the electric motor circuit. The outer faces of the ferrule are flush with the sides of the block 65 so as to offer no hinderance to the free action of the electric switch. The upper contact ends 64 of the spring arms 71 are curved to present rounded surfaces for contact with the block 65 and metal ferrule or contact member 73 for easy operation. The rod 66 is sufficiently yieldable so that it will offer practically no resistance to the up and down movement of the lever 39. The rod 66 is held to the bracket 67 by jam nuts 75 and by this means the height of the block 76 can easily be adjusted. I preferably adjust the height of the block to cause the lower edge of the ferrule 73 to be positioned substantially at the level of the'contact points 74 of the spring arms 71 at the instant that the U-shaped member 48 is substantially vertical so that as the receptacle 6 rises rapidly after this point has been reached the block 66 will be drawn down quickly between the arms 71.

The metal ferrule 73 has an appreciable length so that as the receptacle is filling and overbalancing the lever 39' the outer end 41 of the lever can raise to some extent without breaking the circuit. and when the receptacle begins to descend rapidly due to the change of. leverage described, the lower edge of the ferrule leaves the contact points of lll) the arms 71 and the circuit is quickly and definitely broken.

I have eliminated all uncertainty in the making and the breathing of the circuit, the same being accomplished detinitely and positively and ren'iaining in such position until the time arrives for the alternate change.

The receptacle (5 shown is of peculiar construction in that the cylindrical body 76 with its upper end 77 is made of drawn steel. To mountthis shell upon the lower head 5 I provide a relatively heavy clamping ring 78 Hanging over the edge 79 of thesteel cylinder and I secure the ring '78 to the edge of the head 5 by a plurality of bolts 80. To protect the cylinder and the head 5 against the corroding action of the CO I line them with a block tin lining S1.

The water never iills the receptacle to the top, which part is reserved for the introduction of the gas and the water above water in the receptacle. The upper ends of the water supply pipe 2-9 and the gas supply pipe 31 extend into the space above the maXinunn water level 55.

F or the purpose of causing the water to absorb a maximum percentage of the gas I provide means for causing the water to be divided into a very line spray or mist as it is delivered into the gas space above the ater. For this purpose I close the top of the water pipe 29 and provide a plurality of very small needle like exit holes 82 through which the water is forced in very tine streams. I arrange these fine holes in several vertical rows spaced around the upper end of the water pipe 29 and I provide a baffle 83 in the form of a cross having as many arms 84; as there are rows of the holes 82. lhe outer ends 85 of the arms are bent downwardly parallel with the water pipe 29 and are arranged one opposite each vertical row of the holes 82 so that as the line streams of water issue from the holes 82 they will be impinged with great force against the flat faces of the battles t5?) and will be broken up into very tine spray. The water particles are so small or line that they completely till the gas space as a cloud and gradually settle down through the gas to the water below, absorbing a maximum quantity of the gas.

As many modification of my invention will readily suggest themselves to one skilled in the art I do not limit or confine my invention to the exact specific constructions herein shown and described, except within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for carbonating liquid, a carbonating receptacle mounted for movement up and down, a counterbalancing lever pivotally mounted between its ends and having one end disposed in relation to the receptacle to be efi'ected by the weight there of, means arranged between the lever and the receptacle for transn'iitting the weight of the receptacle to the lever said transmission means arranged to cause a sudden etfective lengthening of the end of the lever associated with the receptacle upon an increase in the total weight thereof above a predetermined amount and a like sudden decrease upon a decrease in weight below a predetermined amount, and means under the control of said lever for starting and stopping the supply of water to saidreceptacle. In a machine of the kind described, a

closed receptacle for liquid mounted on a base for movement up and down, a counterbalancing lever having an end disposed beneath thereceptacle to receive weight therefrom, linkage arranged between the receptacle and the associated end of the leve and adapted to suddenly increase the ellective length of the said lever and as the receptacle descends below a predetermined point and to suddenly decrease the same as the receptacle rises above a predetermined point, and means associated with said lever for controlling the supply of water to said rcceptacle.

3. In a machine of the kind described, a receptacle for liquid, means connecting the receptacle with a supply of liquid, a member upon which the receptacle is rigidly mounted, said member pivotally mounted to permit the receptacle to swing up and down, a counterbalancing lever pivotally mounted on pivots rigidly held in relation to thepivotal means mounting the receptacle, and having an end disposed beneath the receptacle, a swinging link hung at one end on the said end of the lever, a strutarranged between the swinging end of the link and the receptacle whereby the effective length of the said end of the lever is suddenly effectively lengthened as the receptacle dcscends and is likewise suddenly shortened as the receptacle rises, and means controlled by the n'iovement of said lever for controlling the l'low of liquid to said receptacle.

4. In a. machine of the kind described, a carbonating receptacle, a member upon which the receptacle is mounted, said member pivotally mounted between its ends to swing the receptacle: up and down as it empties and fills, a pump connectedwith the receptacle for forcing liquid into same, a motor for operating the pump, the receptacle, motorand pump being mounted rigid with said member, a motor switch carried by said member, a counterbalanced lever pivotally mounted between its ends and having an end disposed beneath the receptacle to re ceive weight therefrom, means associated with the lever and receptacle for suddenly lengthening the effective length of the said end of the lever as the receptacle descends and for suddenly shortening same as the receptacle rises. and connection between the llt) lit)

lower end of the lever said lever for breaking the motor the sudden movement effected by sudden change in the length of the switch and circuit by said lever.

5. In a machine of the kind carbonating receptacle mounted for move ment up and down, means for forcing water into the receptacle, a pivotally mounted counter-balancing lever having an end arranged beneath the receptacle, a link depending from said end of the lever and supported thereon at a point higher than the pivotal support of the lever so that as the said end swings down the efi'ective length of the lever is increased, a strut arranged between the lower end of said link and the receptacle for transmitting weight to the link, the lever adapted to cause the link to swing from an inclined relation in the general direction of the lever pivot to a substantially vertical position as the receptacle descends, and said strut being adapted to suddenly swing the lower end of the strut outwardly away from the pivot of the lever and to cause the same to assume a position substantially at right angles to a radial line from thesaid pivot through the point of support of the link on the lever whereby the said end of the lever is of maximum effective length when the receptacle is at the lower limit of its movement and the receptacle once down to the lower limit of its movement remains in such position until a predetermined amount of liquid is withdrawn from the receptacle, and means controlled by the position of said lever for controlling the supply of water to said receptacle.

6. In a machine of the kind described, a carbonating receptacle mounted for movement up and down, a pivotally mounted coiinterlmlancing lever having an end arranged beneath the receptacle, a link depending from said end of the lever and sup ported. thereon at a point higher than the pivotal support of the lever so that as the said end swings down the eil'eetive length of the lever is increased, a strut arranged be tween the lower end of said link and the receptacle for transmitting weight to the link, the lever adapted to cause the link to swing described, a

from an inclined"relation in the general di reetion of the lever pivot to a substantially vertical position as the receptacle descends. and said strut being adapted to swing the outwardly away from and to cause the same substantially at righa the pivot of the lever to assume a position angles to a radial line from the said pivot through the point of support of the link on the lever whereby the said end of the lever is of maximum effective length when the re eeptacle is at the lower limit of its movement and the receptacle once down to the lowest limit of its movement remains in such position until a predetermined amount of liquid is withdrawn from the receptacle.

7. The improvements herein described comprising a closed carbomiting receptacle, power actuated means for forcing liquid into the receptacle, power controlling means associated therewith, the receptacle mounted to move up and down as it empties and fills, a counterbalancing lever having an end arranged beneath the receptacle and pivotally mounted for movement up and down therewith, means interposed between the receptacle and said end of the lever to cause a decrease in the connterbalancing effect of said lever as the receptacle is filling and becomes nearly filled, and a similar increase in the counterbalancing eii'ect as the receptacle is emptying and becomes nearly empty, such changes causing a quick movement of the lever as it approaches each limit of its movement, and means connected with the lever for operatin said power controlling means.

8. In a carbonating machine of the kind described, a carbonating receptacle mounted to move up and down between limits as it empties and fills, means for causing it to remain adjacent to its lower limit once it has descended until it has become nearly empty and for causing it to remain adjacent to its upper limit until it is nearly filled, said means comprising a. pivotally mounted counterbalancing lever arranged with one end beneath the receptacle, a link hung at its upper end on said end of the lever to swing from and toward the lever pivot, and, a strut interposed between the lower end or" the link and the receptacle, the lower end of the link being adapted to swing outwardly as the receptacle approaches the lower limit of its movement to suddenly decrease the counterbalancing effect of said lever and to swing inwardly as the receptacle approaches the upper limit oit' its moven'ici'it, on account of adecrease of liquid therein, and to likewise increase the co:uiterlmlaimiug otlecl' oi' the lever.

Signed at Chicago, in the county of (look and State of Illinois, this 23rd day of July,

RUDOLPH MUELLER. 

